How your sleep shows up in your blood pressure.
Enter a reading and a few answers about your sleep. We'll show where you stand and whether sleep apnea is worth ruling out.
Your reading
128/82 mmHg
Sleep apnea screen (STOP-BANG)
0 / 8
Screening tool, not a diagnosis. A single reading means little. Measure seated, after five quiet minutes, on two or more days. Categories follow the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline.
Why these belong together
Large cohort studies keep finding the same pattern: adults who regularly sleep under six hours have a higher risk of developing hypertension than those sleeping seven to eight. Obstructive sleep apnea is a stronger link still. Each breathing pause spikes sympathetic activity and blood pressure, hundreds of times a night.
STOP-BANG is an eight-question screen used in clinics to decide who should get a proper sleep study. A high score isn't a diagnosis; it's a good reason to ask for one. More on the research.
Common questions
What is a normal blood pressure?
Under the 2017 ACC/AHA guideline, normal is below 120/80 mmHg. 120 to 129 systolic with diastolic under 80 is elevated. 130 to 139 or 80 to 89 is stage 1 hypertension, and 140/90 or higher is stage 2.
Can poor sleep raise blood pressure?
Yes. Long-term studies link regularly sleeping under six hours with a higher risk of developing hypertension, and sleep-restriction experiments raise blood pressure within days. Untreated obstructive sleep apnea is a stronger link still.
What is the STOP-BANG questionnaire?
Eight yes-or-no questions doctors use to screen for obstructive sleep apnea: snoring, tiredness, observed pauses in breathing, high blood pressure, BMI over 35, age over 50, neck over 40 cm and male sex. A score of 3 or 4 is intermediate risk and 5 or more is high risk. It is a reason to ask for a sleep study, not a diagnosis.
When is high blood pressure an emergency?
A reading above 180/120 that stays high when you re-check after five minutes needs prompt medical advice. If it comes with chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness, weakness, vision changes or trouble speaking, call emergency services.
